Sun Bear Class - EYFS
Welcome to Sun Bear Class!
Sun Bear Learning Journey
🌞 Welcome to Sunbears Class! 🐻
Hello Sunbears (and families too)!
We are so excited to welcome you to Sunbear Class. This year is going to be filled with fun, laughter, new friendships and lots of exciting learning adventures together.
Starting school is a very special milestone, and we are looking forward to helping your child settle into school life, grow in confidence, and develop a love of learning. In Sunbear Class, we learn through play, exploration, curiosity and creativity. Every day brings opportunities to discover something new, whether it's building, painting, singing, storytelling, investigating, counting, reading or making new friends.
✨ Reception children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which supports learning through hands-on experiences and purposeful play. Children develop key skills across all areas of learning, including communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, physical development, literacy and mathematics.
✨ We encourage children to become independent, confident and resilient learners by exploring, asking questions, solving problems and trying new things. Our classroom is a nurturing environment where every child is valued, supported and encouraged to achieve their very best.
As part of St Joseph's, we ensure:
- A smooth and positive transition from Nursery to Reception.
- Strong partnerships with parents and carers from the very beginning.
- A start to school that meets the developmental needs of every child.
- A safe, happy and secure environment where children can thrive.
- Opportunities for children to learn, grow and celebrate their achievements every day.
💛 Dear Parents and Carers, please know that your children are at the heart of everything we do. We will nurture their interests, celebrate their successes and support them through every step of their learning journey. We look forward to working closely with you and making this first year at school a happy, memorable and successful one for your child.
We can't wait to welcome you to Sunbear Class and begin our adventure together! 🌈📚✨
We are so looking forward to working with you to make this a happy and memorable year for your little Sunbear.
Together, we’ll make sure our Sunbears shine brightly this year! 🌟
Mrs Austin
Mrs Johnson
Mrs Liew
Key Information for Term 1 2026
All children return to school on Thursday 3rd September.
Reception children will start at ___ and finish at ___.
For their first two days in Reception please provide your child with a packed lunch so we can have lunch altogether in the classroom to settle them in.
From Monday 7th, should you wish your child to have a school dinner please sign up for their lunches to ensure they are booked in for a dinner.
Our school lunches are provided by Chartwells and can be paid for on Parentpay.
Please inform the school of any allergies ASAP
**Please wear your PE kit to school on Thursdays **
When we start giving out reading books, please bring Reading Records to school every day as we may read with your child during the day.
💛 Helping Children Become Independent
One of the most important skills children develop in Reception is independence. We would be very grateful if you could support this at home by encouraging your child to practise putting on and taking off their coat, fastening zips, changing their shoes, and dressing themselves as independently as possible. These small skills make a big difference to children's confidence and help them feel proud of what they can achieve. While we are always happy to help when needed, encouraging children to "have a go" first helps them become resilient, capable learners. Thank you for supporting us in helping your child grow in independence throughout their Reception year.
🌟 A little practice at home can make a big difference in school!
Please ensure all your child's items are clearly labelled.
You can leave a set of wellies, wet weather gear and a spare change of clothes (clearly labelled) so the children can enjoy play in all weather types and can change if they get too mucky or have an accident.
Me and my community
In the Me and My Community project, your child will learn about the school community and building friendships. They will explore the school grounds and find out about all the people in school who are there to help them. They will explore how they are special and unique and how everyone’s family is different. They will take part in practical activities to support them to build new friendships and explore what makes a good friend. They will also find out about people in the community who help us, including doctors, nurses, and the emergency services.
Supporting your child at home
- Look at family photographs together and discuss who is part of your family and extended family.
- Look at baby photographs and talk about how they have grown.
- Look at any childhood photographs of parents and grandparents.
- Talk about the things you like to do together and places you like to go.